Being a Nursing Officer (Reserve) means using your skills to support vital Royal Navy operations, all over the world. You’ll encounter some of the most challenging environments imaginable, so you you’ll develop both personally and professionally. You don’t need any naval experience, just the desire to practise where you’re needed most, experiencing and doing things few medical professionals can imagine.
Nursing Officer Reserve
First-class care meets challenging conditions, as you play an essential part in safeguarding our people, all over the world.
Start your application
As part of your application process, we’ll help you find the most suitable role based on your skills and experience.
Register interest- Undergraduate Degree
- Surface Fleet
- Royal Naval Reserve
- Officer level
Role details
- Deliver world class healthcare as part of a highly skilled and motivated team.
- Provide vital support to maritime and wider military operations across the globe.
- Provide support in a range of challenging conditions at sea, on land or in the air. Adapt to a variety of platforms including state of the art warships such as the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.
- Travel the world as part of the front line medical services team.
- Daily rates of pay equivalent to those of full-time personnel
- Annual tax-free bounty subject to meeting the minimum training commitment
- Paid leave in proportion to the number of training days attended
- Automatic membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
- Expenses and allowances when undergoing training
- Access to sports and fitness facilities
- Opportunities for Adventurous Training (AT)
Qualifications you'll gain
- The opportunity to undergo formal management training on reserve staff and command courses
- The opportunity to undergo post-graduate specialisation qualifications
- Attain NHS accredited qualifications through military service that transpose directly to your civilian medical occupation e.g. Immediate Life Support (ILS) and any specialisation course to your specific clinical area
Skills you'll develop
- Your professional skills will be broadened and enhanced with direct benefit to your civilian practice
- You will be trained and developed by an organisation recognised for its ability to turn out world class leaders
- You must be aged 21 or up to 52 ( or 56 if you’re currently serving or an Ex-regular)
- 5 GCSEs grades C/4, which must include English Language and Mathematics
- You must hold a degree in Adult Nursing. You must also be clinically current in a secondary care environment
- You must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), without restrictions
- You can apply in your last year of nurse training and will be selected on a conditional basis subject to receipt of your NMC PIN
- A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National
- You need to be within the healthy range for Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Pass the Naval Swimming Test
It’s given me the opportunity to demonstrate to the Royal Navy how I do my work, and in return I’ve been able to use my skills on board ship and ashore.
Career Progression
From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Day One
Complete your militarisation and marinisation training within 10 weeks at HMS Raliegh. This initial stage of development for young officers, designed to build the leadership, discipline, and core military skills required for naval service, before then moving onto Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth for another 30 weeks to further develop these skills.
Professional Training
Develop your chosen profession skills at your respective training establishment dependant on your profession.
First Year
Learn management theory, develop your own style of leadership and experience your first time at sea practicing your role.
First Promotion
Become a Sub – Lieutenant, advance you skills with further training, have an increased responsibility.
Second Promotion
Become a Lieutenant, lead a department and report directly into command.
Joining Process
From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
- Register your interest
- Complete your application
- Presentation
- Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) and interview
- Join your local unit
- Medical and fitness test
- Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)
- Phase 1 training
- Confirmation course
Start your application
Find your place in the Royal Navy. Make friends for life, learn new skills and experience the world.
Got a question?
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